The Quiet Watchers
Two small sentinels on the back of a couch,
Their ears like sails, catching every sound—
Eyes glimmering with a gentle question,
As if they know something I don’t.
Sunlight slants across their coats,
Black and white like ink on parchment,
Still and soft, yet so awake. Alive!
Behind them, blossoms fall silently.
Petals paused in their pink descent—
A world in bloom, framed by the glass
As life unfolds just out of reach.
The room hums with a hush
Only the heart can hear.
And now, they are gone.
Their warmth only memory
Their gaze now immortal
In this canvas of stillness.
The artist too has stepped
Beyond the edge of the frame,
Brush laid down, breath stilled,
Leaving me this moment captured.
I stand here now,
Looking at the ones
Who once watched me
with their intense eyes...
And shed a quiet tear.
O brief lives,
O bright sparks,
O joy curled in small bodies—
You remind me:
The couch was your throne,
The day was once infinity,
And life… a quiet, beautiful blink.
So let's love now, live now,
Sit in the sun while we can.
Watch the world bloom.
And when the moment comes,
That we too must leave,
Let it come gently,
Like this.
An Ekphrastic poem for Sumana's prompt at "What's Going On?"
(This poem is about the painting of my beloved pets Tulip (my heart dog) and Violet (my first toy fox terrier) done by commission by Tasmanian artist Nyra Aherne. Both the dogs and the artist are deceased. The picture hangs in my living room.)
Oh this poem is so sad, heartfelt and beautifully expressed with a soft gentleness at the end. One of your best !
ReplyDelete"The room hums with a hush only the heart can hear." I love that. This poem goes straight to my heart - those beloved faithful dogs, whose eyes followed you everywhere. I so relate to "The day was once infinity, and life....a quiet beautiful blink." I love this poem, Mary. My new favourite.
ReplyDeleteOh Mary, this poem is beyond beautiful!! Simple yet deeply touching words capturing reality in a time frame are stunning. I specially love, "The day was once infinity, / And life… a quiet, beautiful blink." And also, "Brush laid down, breath stilled". And what to say of those two cuties, " joy curled in small bodies"!
ReplyDelete'O brief lives,
ReplyDeleteO bright sparks,
O joy curled in small bodies'
Such truth and feeling in these words. Our pets give us so much and ask so little more than love.
Mary, this was beautiful to read and the last voice touched my heart. Yes, we need to live in the now enjoying the moments while we can. sigh
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful painting and poem to remember your friends by - and a positive ending to leave us with as well - Jae
ReplyDelete"Sunlight slants across their coats,
ReplyDeleteBlack and white like ink on parchment,
Still and soft, yet so awake. Alive!"
These lines pick up so much more relevance as the poem progresses--they are alive here always. Such a beautiful poem! Full-hearted! I also have a painting of a heart pet who stayed with me for 22 years--my Miracle Kitty. This is my new favorite of your poems. I love its gentle ending, almost a whisper.
oh what a touching beautiful poem about your dogs who have a big place in your heart. I especially love the lines "Eyes glimmering with a gentle question" and "Sunlight slants across their coats"
ReplyDeleteLove that line. Seems like so much of what is important about existence is "beyond the edge of the frame".
ReplyDeleteThe dogs we own bury their, the dog's own, into our hearts. I loved my Beagle dog, Adi who died in 2012. We were a registered Pet Therapy Pair and she loved visiting with the Alzheimers residents of our assisted living facility.
ReplyDeletehttps://jimmiehov.blogspot.com/2012/08/adis-retirement-six-word-saturday.html?m=1
Delete"The room hums with a hush
DeleteOnly the heart can hear."
I relate so well to this heartfelt, lovely poem.
As a dog person (who had to cope with the death of two chihuahuas - Pepito and Pancho), this poem is very special for me, Mary. A lovely painting too.
ReplyDelete